Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) on essential oil yield and composition of different parts of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) under salt stress conditions

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Crop Physiology, University of Tehran, Tehran

2 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Yasuj University, Yasuj

3 Assistant Prof., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad branch, Isfahan

Abstract
This study investigated the influence of inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) on essential oil yield and composition of Different Parts of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) affected by three different levels of salt stress. The experiment was arranged as a factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Experimental treatments including: three levels of salinity stress (0 (control), 60 and 120 µm), two levels of inoculation (inoculation and non inoculation) and Three organs of the plant (leaves, flowering shoots  and mature seeds). The essential oil contents were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Salinity had significant effects on the essential oil percentage and yield of leaves, flowering shoots  and mature seeds. The percentage and yield of essential oil contents of seeds  and flowering shoots were much higher than those of leaves under all salinity treatments. Essential oil percentages of seeds and flowering shoots were considerably higher, when plants were subjected to moderate stress. The results pointed out that there was not a significant interaction between non mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal inoculation on essential oil percentage. However,The plants inoculated with AMF had significantly greater essential oil yield than the control plants at all salinity levels. The main oil constituents in organs were α –phellandrene, carvone, Linonene,  α – thujene, dillether  and dihydrocarvone. Salinity had significant effects on these components.Although, α – thujene percentage decreased in salt stress conditions. The Flowering shoots had greater α –phellandrene and carvone than the seeds, while Linonene of seeds was more than flowering shoots and leaves.The AMF induced a higher increase in these components  in response to salinity. AMF colonization notably increased α –phellandrene and carvone in  flowering shoots. The linonene percentge was higher in seeds of  mycorrhizal   than  nonmycorrhizal plants under salt stress conditions.

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